I heard a woman once teach, "Do not be spoon fed the Gospel." That thought strikes me now as it did then, as a principle that I wanted to live by. Don't get me wrong, we have, and I listen to, some fantastic Bible teachers. In my church in books and on the radio. I am now just starting a new Bible study and I am so excited to see how God will teach me through it. BUT... God has also given to me the best Bible teacher I could ever have, and it is His spirit that lives in me.
I read a devotional yesterday that was really beautiful. So this morning I started by going back to the verse that was used and started reading. It is a familiar passage of scripture and I have read and heard teaching on it before. Today though it was a little different. There is a portion that I have often heard, "For you will always have the poor with you." A statement made by Jesus in response to criticism from people, when a woman "wasted" money by using a vial of perfume on Jesus instead of selling to give to the poor.
Today though as I was reading it, I realized that the statement was only part of the sentence. That one portion says, "For you will always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them". There is a little more to that verse, but it was the second part of the statement that caught my eye. It spoke to me, "Whenever I wish I can do good to them."
So as I think about the second part to that verse, I start to feel like I did not have the whole story. "Hey, even Jesus said that there would always be poor people". So I will do what I can, I am not rich. I can give some old clothes, maybe some money and those small household goods I don't need anymore and I will have done my part. That just doesn't seem good enough to me anymore? I don't believe that this is the time I am going to "save the world", but I do believe that God is changing my heart for something. Not sure what it is though?
What am I sure of? It is that God wants to speak to us, all of us. I am grateful that God's spirit, that is in me, got me going this morning. Reminded me to sit down, open the word and shut up for a few minutes today. So that He could show me something good.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
What's in a name?
I saw my name in the paper today. It was in an article about a man who spends time with homeless people. He brings food, clothing and friendship to a population that live outside the "norm". It was a nice article, but what really caught my attention was the mention of a homeless woman who had died. Her name was Cheryl Mendoza.
They just briefly mentioned her, and the fact that she was run over by a train in November. Since I was reading an online newspaper, I did a search of our name and it brought up an article that reported Cheryl's death when it had occurred. In some ways we were alike. The article spoke of how she grew up in San Jose, was a great cook and loved to read. Three things we very much had in common. Then there were the details of her life that were very different from mine. Of how she was homeless, loved vodka, and how she died. The article was not all sad. They did speak with those who knew her, and had befriended her. Even in a life that is out of the "norm", she had a circle of friends.
It is strange to see your own name, with the details of another's life attached to it. Especailly one that seems so tragic. What led her to a life on the streets? Loving vodka? With an end, that seems to me, to be too soon. It makes me wonder, why am I the Cheryl with the normal life? How did I wind up sitting in my warm living room, while she was sleeping under a bridge? I know many people think they have the answer to questions like that. I read a myriad of opinions that people wrote in response to the article. As for me, I am not so sure of the answer.
I know there have been times in my life that were right on track, when I have followed the rules, worked hard and then the bottom fell out from under my feet. At other times I have been wildly successful, all by accident. Or more likely I should say, by grace.
I do think of Cheryl though, and the people who will miss her. My life may be deemed by society as more acceptable than hers, but you cannot find fault with the impact she had on those around her. They spoke of her with affection and love. In that facet of our lives, I hope I am more like her than not.
They just briefly mentioned her, and the fact that she was run over by a train in November. Since I was reading an online newspaper, I did a search of our name and it brought up an article that reported Cheryl's death when it had occurred. In some ways we were alike. The article spoke of how she grew up in San Jose, was a great cook and loved to read. Three things we very much had in common. Then there were the details of her life that were very different from mine. Of how she was homeless, loved vodka, and how she died. The article was not all sad. They did speak with those who knew her, and had befriended her. Even in a life that is out of the "norm", she had a circle of friends.
It is strange to see your own name, with the details of another's life attached to it. Especailly one that seems so tragic. What led her to a life on the streets? Loving vodka? With an end, that seems to me, to be too soon. It makes me wonder, why am I the Cheryl with the normal life? How did I wind up sitting in my warm living room, while she was sleeping under a bridge? I know many people think they have the answer to questions like that. I read a myriad of opinions that people wrote in response to the article. As for me, I am not so sure of the answer.
I know there have been times in my life that were right on track, when I have followed the rules, worked hard and then the bottom fell out from under my feet. At other times I have been wildly successful, all by accident. Or more likely I should say, by grace.
I do think of Cheryl though, and the people who will miss her. My life may be deemed by society as more acceptable than hers, but you cannot find fault with the impact she had on those around her. They spoke of her with affection and love. In that facet of our lives, I hope I am more like her than not.
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